Reversing mechanism for explosive-engines.



P. A. GAGNON & G. H. WATT. REVERSING MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1910.

1,009,023, 7 Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON u c.

a rice.

FRANCIS A. GAGNON AND GEORGE H. WATT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

REVERSING MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 26, 1910.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911. Serial No. 578,037.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS A. GAGNON and GEORGE H. IVATT, citizens ofthe United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county ofWayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Reversing Mechanism for Explosive-Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to internal combus tion motors and to reversingmechanism for the valves thereof whereby the engine may be driven ineither direction at the will of the operator.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of amulti-cylinder motor equipped with a valve gear embodying features ofthe invention; Fig. 2 is a view in. detail of a valve gear.

As shown in the drawings cylinders l of a multi-cylinder, four-cyclemotor of conventional type have any preferred form of intake valvemechanism, herein shown at 2 as automatic in action. Each cylinder islikewise provided with an exhaust valve having a stem 3 and spring 4holding the valve closure to the seat when not forced therefrom by themovement of a push rod 5 that is reciprocable in a guide bracket 6secured to the side of the cylinder or other convenient place.

A cam shaft 7 is journaled on the lower part of the engine beneath thebearing brackets 6 and has forward and reverse cams 8 and 9 arranged inpairs directly under neath the push rods 5. A tappet rod 10 verticallymovable in a guide aperture of a bracket 11 rides on each forward cam 8,a friction roll 12 being provided to reduce .wear. A reverse tappet rod13, likewise reciprocable in the bracket 11, bears against the reversecam 9. These tappets are parallel to the push rods 5 and are preferablydisposed at equal distances from the vertical axis of the latter. Aslide 14 in each bracket 6 bears against the under end of the push rod 5and is coupled by a link 15 to a shoe 16. The latter has lateral wings17 engaging transverse slots in the upper ends of the tappets 10 and 13and a central depending projection 18.

The lower ends of the links 15 and the shoes 16 are pivotally connectedby link connections 19 to a cross rod 20 parallel to the cam shaft 7whose extremity is articulated to ahand lever 21 swinging in a quadrant22 with which it is interlocked through the medium of a hand latch 23.

The parts are so disposed that when the lever is at one side of thequadrant the pro jection 18 of each shoe and the pivot pins 2a and 25 ofthe links 15 are substantially in a straight-push line between the headsof the tappets 10 and the slide let so that the reciprocation of thetappets and push rods 5 opens the exhaust valves. I Vhen at the otherend of its throw the lever causes the parts to become rigid struts orthrust members between the other tappets and the push rods. lVhen at thecenter of its throw the lever holds the parts in neutral or inoperativeposition. It is thus possible to shift the opening of the exhaust valvesto allow the proper scavenging and compression to take place in timedrelation to the compres sion moment of the engine. The latter cantherefore be made to rotate in either direction at the will of theoperator. The cams are rigidly secured in position and do not have to beshifted axially as in other forms of reversing valve mechanism so thatthey are not subject to the wear which they would otherwise encounter.

Obviously, changes in the details of c011- struction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and .we do not wish to limitourselves to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

e claim as our invention 1- I. In an explosive engine, a cylinder, anexhaust valve therefor, a forward and a reverse cam, a. memberlongitudinally reciprocable in a plane parallel with the axis ofrotation of the cams, an operating member for the exhaust valvesconnected with the reciprocating member, and means for shifting thereciprocable member and bringing the operating members into cooperativerelation with either cam.

2. In an explosive engine, a cylinder, an exhaust valve therefor, aforward and a reverse cam, a slide member for operating the valve, apush rod connected with said slide, a pair of tappet-s operated by saidcams respectively, and means for bringing the free end of said push rodin cooperation wit-h either tappetto reciprocate the valve slide.

3. In an explosive engine, a cylinder, an

exhaust valve therefor, a cam shaft, a forward and a reverse cam, a pushrod connected with the valve for opening 1t, alongitudinally-reciprocable bar connected with the push rod, a pair oflongitudinal]y-reeiprocable tappets operated by said cams respectively,means articulated to the push rod and adapted to be moved intocooperative relation with either tappet, and means for shifting saidbar.

4. In an explosive engine, a cylinder, a valve slide therefor, a camshaft, a forward and a reverse cam, a pair of tappets operated by saidcams respectively and provided with slot-ted free ends, a. rod pivotedon said slide, a shoe carried by the free end of said rod and providedwith a pair of wings guided in said tappet slots, and means for swingingsaid rod into operative relation with either tappet.

5. In an explosive engine, the combination with a. plurality ofcylinders, a valve slide for each of said cylinders, a cam shafttransversely disposed to said cylinders, a forward and a reverse cam onthe shaft for each of said cylinders respectively, actuators for saidvalve slides, respectively, rods pivoted to said slides respectively, anarm par allel with said cam shaft connected with all of said rods, andmeans for shifting said arm longitudinally to bring all of the rods intocooperation with the forward cams or with the reverse camssimultaneously.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANCIS A. GAGNON. GEORGE H. ATT. lVitnesses ANNA M. Donn, O'rro F.BARTHEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

